Spirit C StripDrill

Spirit C StripDrill is a unique, compact and integrated strip-till concept with narrow row spacing for drilling cereals, oilseed rape and legumes at speeds of up to 15 km/hour. The concept combines loosening tines with double fertiliser metering via Spirit’s very precise coulters. By ensuring that all plants have a good water supply, yields are stabilised at a high level.

Maximum flexibility

The concept is based on integrated strip-till tines that loosen the soil to 30 cm depth and at the same time place fertiliser at two different depths, after which the seed is drilled. The system can be used equally flexibly as the conventional Spirit machine and can either direct-drill or be used in minimum or ploughed tillage systems. In conventional strip-till, which is designed for row crops, seed is drilled in a previously prepared 5-10 cm wide tilled strip at a row spacing of 45-90 cm. In contrast, Spirit C StripDrill is designed to drill at narrower row spacing. The tines either loosen between two rows (16.7 cm row spacing) or directly in the row (33.4 cm row spacing).

The strip-till system always leaves the soil between the rows untilled and leaves harvest trash behind on the surface. This solution is also applied by Spirit C StripDrill at 33.4 cm row spacing, where the crop is drilled in the row loosened by the fertiliser tines. When drilling at 16.7 cm row spacing, however, the soil must be cultivated to interrupt capillarity and also to create a fine seedbed for drilling, since in this case the seed is placed to the side of the loosened strip created by the fertiliser tines.

Strip Tillage

StripDrill

Spirit C StripDrill for oilseed rape and cereal

When drilling oilseed rape (OSR), the tines loosen the soil at a spacing of 33.4 cm. Drilling is achieved by shutting off alternate seed tubes. The rape seed is placed directly above the loosened strip. The loosened soil in the strip provides optimum conditions for fast elongation of the rape taproot.

Cereal has different requirements on seed placement and row spacing than rapeseed. In addition, the plants need a well-consolidated soil for their early development. To meet these requirements, cereal needs to be drilled with a row spacing of 16.7 cm and to the side of the loosened strip.

A) 16,7 cm row spacing for cereals B) 33,4 cm row spacing for rape

Roots create yield

Well-developed roots allow efficient nutrient uptake, which is essential for high yield. The roots also stabilise the soil structure and create channels for the roots of the following crop. Combining loosening and drilling, thereby avoiding compacting tractor wheels between the tines and seed coulters, minimises the negative impacts of soil compaction on the roots. This results in all plants having the same good conditions for growth and ensures uniform stand development.

Spirit C StripDrill gives all plants the same conditions

Drilling without loosening in the same pass gives the plants in traffic tracks less favourable conditions than other plants

Smarter water management

With future climate change, the number of extreme weather events is predicted to increase. For example, it is believed that springs will be drier in northern Europe and winter rainfall will increase. This was the starting point in the development of the Spirit C StripDrill concept. In wet autumns, the deep furrows created by the Spirit C StripDrill fertiliser tines help to drain off water. However, in dry springs water can be a limiting factor during the most critical stage of plant development. In such cases, the deep furrows make it easier for plant roots to penetrate to depth quickly and find moisture.

Fertiliser at 2 depths maintains yield

The tines are only 25 mm wide, which means that they avoid mixing soil and creating clods, while also lowering the draught requirement. Their flat, narrow front face ensures that the furrow sides are not compressed but cracked apart, allowing good oxygen transport and therefore good root development. The narrow face of the tines in combination with their straight shape creates fine soil, perfect for plant development. The front face is made from hardened metal, ensuring that the flat shape is maintained during the entire life of the tine. Shallow fertiliser at 5-10 cm depth can be accessed quickly by the plant roots, and experiments have shown that this results in higher yield. In addition to the higher yield, the total nitrogen and phosphorus uptake is increased. Plant nutrient deposits at 15-30 cm depth stimulate root development and supply the plant with nutrients during the entire growing season. This applies even in dry periods, since soil moisture is retained in deeper layers.

StripDrill - thin non mixing tine, fine tilth

Wider tine, other shape - more clods

Efficient double springs

The tines on Spirit C StripDrill are doubly protected. A hydraulic cylinder with high release force ensures that the tine maintains its working depth precisely, while rebounding back quickly if it hits an obstacle in the field. In addition, the tines are mounted on the frame with TriForce rubber cushioning and this combination helps extend the life of the frame and the metal plating.

Precise reconsolidation

The new centrally placed OffSet-positioned carrying wheels have tractor tread radial tyres with the dimension 400/55/15,5. This gives outstanding reconsolidation and levelling of soil and a smooth, stable passage in the field, even at high speeds. Each wheel is individually mounted, making it easy to repair, e.g. when a puncture occurs.

The OffSet positioning of the tyres reduces the draught requirement, gives a high throughflow of soil and plant residues and decreases the risk of soil drag.

The new tread design also gives the tyres even better self-cleaning capacity. In difficult conditions this gives the tyres even more traction and a better result overall. Apart from in the support wheels, the air pressure can be reduced slightly compared to the level required in the old tyres. This means that the tyres have even better self-cleaning properties.

Hydraulic cradle for optimal result

The hydraulic cradle allows you to adjust the load on the centre wheel. The ability to adjust the settings on the Spirit enables you to more easily adjust consolidation between the tractor wheels to different circumstances, so that the results are always optimised to match different soil conditions.The hydraulic cradle is automatically relieved when the seed drill is in transport position, thereby increasing safety during transport between fields.

High class metering

The Fenix metering system is completely corrosion-proof and well designed for metering both seed and fertiliser. The good-sized motor permits high seed rates at high speed. The flexible Fenix rubber metering roller has the great advantage of being gentle on seed and therefore the seed rate can be lowered, since there are almost no damaged seeds. It also prevents breakdowns as the motor is protected from total stoppages. A flap for shutting off the supply of seed and fertiliser to the metering system makes it easy to work even when the hopper is full.

Half-machine shut-off saves seed

With half-machine shut-off from the cab as standard on all models over 4 m working width, seed and fertiliser can be saved on irregularly shaped fields, while harmful double drilling can be minimised. Each seed row can be monitored individually by an electronic monitoring system, which sends an immediate alarm when the seed flow slows. Therefore there is no risk of drilling with clogged seed hoses.

Responsive coulters

The hydraulically adjustable coulter pressure means that the depth placement can easily be optimised for a range of different conditions, with lower pressure on light soils to full coulter pressure on heavier soils. Through its shape, the triangular rubber cushioning, TriForce, ensures consistent downward force even at high impact and high speed. This helps to improve the seed placement radically on varying soils and uneven fields. The large diameter of the seed discs give a stable passage and this, together with the hard material, results in very long life. The discs are held in place with just one bolt, which saves time during changes. The broad, unpatterned tyres of the press wheels mean that they maintain the same flat shape against the seedbed, irrespective of pressure. This ensures that the seed coulters stay at the right depth and that the seed slot is carefully closed, even on very light soils. The tyres are continuously in motion, keeping them cleared of soil, and since they have no air inside tubeless, there is no risk of punctures. The spokes prevent soil from fastening between rim and scraper.

Centrally mounted following harrow for increased flexibility

The new model of Spirit is built with a centrally mounted following harrow that engages the soil under its own weight. This construction increases the responsiveness and makes it easy to set the working angle. The harrow is spring-loaded, a great advantage in shallow drilling since the pressure applied can be exactly matched to crop requirements.

Spirit C StripDrill available in two models

400C StripDrillThe seed drill has hydraulically controlled coulter pressure, which can be varied between 40-80 kg pressure per coulter. The large 3900-litre hopper can be adapted to carry either 45% or 65% seed. The transport width is only 3 m.

600C StripDrillSpirit 600C is equipped with load-sensing (LS) hydraulics that provide active coulter pressure. This helps the machine to ensure that the coulter pressure remains constant even on undulating fields. In addition, the LS system reduces the power requirement and the oil temperature, leading to lower fuel consumption. The hopper holds 5000 litres and can be set so that the relative proportions of fertiliser and seed are 50/50 or 60/40. A maintenance-free auger meters out the fertiliser. Half-machine shut-off is operated from the cab. The turbine fan is positioned high on the front edge of the hopper, reducing the intake of dust and the air flow can be regulated with AirBalance. The transport width is only 3 m.

Photo gallery:

Direct drilling

Minimum tillage

Ploughed tillage

Spirit C StripDrill movies:

Product film Spirit C StripDrill

Spirit 600C with StripDrill

Metering system

Spirit with the front tool StripDrill is a highly versatile machine.

Direct drilling

In optimal conditions with a good crop rotation and low weed pressure, Spirit C StripDrill can be used for direct drilling. This method is optimised with a low clay content and successful creation of a fine tilth by the tines. It is important to leave as little straw as possible on the surface in order to avoid problems with slugs and rodents.

Minimal tillage

In most cases minimal soil tillage is the best option. Stubble cultivation is carried out directly after harvesting, preferably using Carrier equipped with either Crosscutter or a straw harrow. Stubble cultivation produces fine soil for a false seedbed and starts the breakdown of harvest residues. A second deeper pass can then be made with Carrier or Swift. The working depth required in this case depends on a number of factors, e.g. straw, soil type and the interval between harvesting and drilling.

Plough

Spirit C StripDrill works extremely well in a conventional cropping system involving ploughing. On lighter soils, it can be used directly after ploughing, while in other cases seedbed preparation is required. Spirit C StripDrill slices through any straw layer present and leaves a straw-free and evenly compressed soil horizon for plant roots. The accompanying aeration of deeper layers increases mineralisation, which has a positive effect on the crop.

Shallow fertilisation for early development

Fertiliser combi-drilled to 5-10 cm depth is easily accessible to plant roots, leading to higher yield according to a number of field trials. In addition to increasing crop yield, shallow fertilisation also increases total nitrogen uptake. Trials in France (Arvalis, Soufflet, EMC2) show that a small amount of precision-placed fertiliser delivers the same yield as a larger amount of broadcast fertiliser. Oilseed rape is one of the crops that responds best to combi-fertilisation, since a large amount of nitrogen is used up in decomposition of straw from the preceding crop. Placing fertiliser in the straw-free furrow provides plants with continuous access to nitrogen.

Deep nutrient placement increases crop security

Fertiliser deposits at 15-30 cm depth stimulate root development and supply the plant with nutrients throughout the entire growing season. This applies even in dry periods, since soil moisture is retained in deeper layers. On soils with ploughless, or shallow tillage, the nutrients are often concentrated in the surface layer of the soil. This can result in inhibition of plant development in dry conditions, since the surface nutrients are not accessible. Deep fertilisation increases the use efficiency of the fertiliser, resulting in yield security and net profits.

Smart use of water

As a result of climate change, the number of extreme weather events is predicted to change. In wet autumns, the deep furrows created by Spirit C StripDrill help to drain away excess water. In dry springs, however, water can be a limiting factor during the most important phase of plant development. This was the driving force behind the development of the StripDrill concept.

Stubble cultivation interrupts capillarityThe Spirit C StripDrill concept starts with a stubble cultivation, which creates fine soil for a false seedbed and breaks down straw. It also interrupts the capillarity in the soil and prevents evaporation from deeper soil layers.

All water for the plantsThe narrow 25-mm Spirit C StripDrill tines loosen the soil in rows. The soil between the rows remains undisturbed. The tines bring moist soil up towards the surface to where the seed is placed, a particularly important feature in rape development. As the furrow dries out, free water in the surrounding soil moves towards the furrow, thereby providing plant roots with additional moisture. This helps to increase root development in and around the furrow. The StripDrill concept involves smarter, less weather-sensitive use of natural resources, resulting in faster and more consistent plant development.

StripDrill increases the drainage effectThe deep furrows drain away surface water, protecting the soil from crusting and erosion. Fields drilled with Spirit C StripDrill have a drier surface after rain, allowing traffic in the field sooner after rainfall. At the same time evaporation is reduced, resulting in the soil warming up more quickly and thereby promoting plant growth.

Standard Features

Narrow tine with changeable point

The tines are only 25 mm wide in order to minimise the amount of soil displaced. The flattened front face of each tine creates cracks in the soil aiding root development. The hardened metal point extends its life, even after intensive work to 30 cm depth at 15 km/hr.

Effective double suspension

The tines are fitted with two forms of protection. A hydraulic cylinder with 610 kg release force ensures that the tines perfectly maintain the pre-set depth, while allowing them to spring back on hitting a stone.

In addition, the tines are mounted on the frame with TriForce rubber suspension. This helps to increase the life of both the frame and the hardened metal point.

Adjustable fertiliser coulter

The fertiliser coulters can be adjusted vertically allowing the customer to position the fertiliser to the correct depth.

Depth setting from the cab

The tine depth is confortably adjustable from the tractor cab during operation.

Fast change rapeseed/cereals

Changing over from sowing rapeseed to cereals is a very quick and simple operation. To achieve this, the front tools are shifted 8 cm sideways. The tines then make slots exactly between two seed rows. Furthermore, every second coulter is reopened. A simple and user-friendly system.

Options

Keep a clean seedbed

Limiter discs stop the lateral flow of soil, thereby guaranteeing a straw-free seedbed. This is particularly important when drilling oilseed crops, as it assures plant development.

Väderstad has made every attempt to accurately portray our product lineup. However, due to our commitment to continually innovate our technologies to provide our customers the best possible products, some products may not be manufactured as shown on this site. Exact specifications for each product will be confirmed at the time of ordering.